Page 17 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2021-22

OF
HOPE

Improving primary healthcare access in

India through technology interventions

The use of technology to consolidate and harness health data of Programme on Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD
a large and varied population, such as in India, has been and Stroke (NPCDCS) and the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ healthcare
instrumental in improving access to primary healthcare, insurance programme, the Trusts have also been working in close
especially for rural and remote communities. concert with government and non-government agencies to
improve primary healthcare facilities.
To that end, Tata Trusts have supported the development of a
digital platform for screening of Non-Communicable Diseases The Trusts’ interventions aim to strengthen government
(NCDs) in collaboration with the Dell Foundation. This online programmes by focussing on early screening, diagnosis, and
health portal is a tool to access timely medical consultation for referral management for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),
many. One such case is of a woman residing in Churu district of through skill building of frontline workers, such as ASHAs and
Rajasthan who was able to access medical care on time. The ANMs, stepping up technology adoption, providing a continuum
woman had been coping with acute stomach pain for an of care through access to regular treatment, and follow-ups and
extended period and had also experienced sudden and access to appropriate medicines in a timely manner.
inexplicable weight loss.
The combined e orts of state and district o cials, and the Trusts’
Unable to treat either condition with the home remedies she had team have led to the enrolment of more than 10 million individuals
been advised to use initially, she was enrolled in the Trusts’ on the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) portal. This is
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Portal, enabling easy valuable and significant health data, which has also allowed this
access to a physician. Upon examination, she was diagnosed with large cohort to access primary
Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis, followed by a nine-month healthcare with just a click of a
treatment programme leading to a complete recovery. button, especially during the
physical restrictions imposed by
India has registered a marked increase in the number of the pandemic.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancers, etc. in the recent
Community Health O cers
decades, which has only reinforced the need to strengthen (CHOs) attending the CPHC
access to, and delivery of, primary healthcare across the country. NCD ANM mobile application
training programme in Churu,
While government e orts include the introduction of the National Rajasthan

3 GOOD HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
PROJECT ALIGNS WITH SDG

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 10